NR Sidelink Channel Occupancy Pooling in Star-Topology UEs

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Solution Overview

Problem

In star topology networks of user equipment (UEs) in new radio (NR) sidelink communications, there is a desire for more efficient management of channel occupancy to prevent channel congestion, reduce latency, and improve quality of service and power consumption, particularly when traffic arrivals are non-correlated and half-duplex constraints exist.

Innovation Solution

A hub UE in the network dynamically adjusts and pools channel occupancy ratio (CR) limits among peripheral UEs, allowing for dynamic resource allocation and coordination of transmissions to manage channel occupancy efficiently, reducing collisions and optimizing resource use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If dynamic resource allocation and coordination of transmissions are implemented to manage channel occupancy efficiently, then channel congestion is reduced and latency is lowered, but device complexity increases due to the need for dynamic adjustment and pooling of CR limits among multiple UEs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hub UE acts as an intermediary that coordinates channel occupancy management among peripheral UEs. It pools CR limits from multiple peripheral UEs and distributes adjusted CR limits back to them, thereby reducing channel congestion and latency without requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination between all UEs. This mediator approach simplifies the overall system complexity while achieving efficient resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts CR limits based on real-time channel conditions and traffic demands. The hub UE receives CR limit information from peripheral UEs, pools these limits, and distributes adjusted CR limits back to peripheral UEs according to current network conditions. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to respond to changing traffic patterns and reduce latency while maintaining manageable complexity through centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If dynamic adjustment of CR limits is implemented to optimize resource use, then quality of service is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring and coordination activities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hub UE periodically collects CR limit information from peripheral UEs and performs dynamic adjustment based on accumulated channel occupancy data. Instead of continuous real-time adjustment, the system uses periodic reporting and adjustment cycles, which maintain quality of service while significantly reducing the energy consumption associated with constant monitoring and coordination activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If centralized pooling of CR limits by hub UE is implemented to prevent channel congestion, then channel occupancy is optimized, but device complexity increases due to the centralized management overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel occupancy efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hub UE merges the channel occupancy management functions of multiple peripheral UEs into a centralized pooling mechanism. By combining CR limits from multiple peripheral UEs and managing them as a unified resource pool, the system optimizes channel occupancy efficiency. The complexity is concentrated in the hub UE rather than being distributed across all UEs, making the overall system more manageable while achieving superior resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4183188B1Channel occupancy management of new radio sidelink in a star topology of user equipment
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4183188B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4183188B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4183188B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Wireless communications systems and methods related to channel occupancy management for new radio side-link supporting star topology of user equipment devices are provided. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) determines a communication resources pool including a channel occupancy ratio (CR) gap of each UE of a plurality of UEs in communication with the first UE, a CR gap of each UE representing a difference between a CR limit of that UE and a CR of that UE, The UE also can communicate, to a second UE of the plurality of UEs, a first CR command configured to allow the second UE to access a first portion of the communication resources pool. In some aspects, an amount of the first portion can be different from an amount of the CR gap of the second UE in the communication resources pool.